DarkRavie Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 What's the Word? - SITOOTERIE pronunciation: [sih-TOO-ter-ee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Scottish, 1920s century meaning: 1. A small building or area where people can sit outside. 2. A summer house, conservatory, or gazebo. Example: "The sitooterie was set up for a small afternoon party." "She enjoyed being able to relax and read in the sitooterie for hours." About Sitooterie Imagine the 1920s with glamorous outdoor garden parties and soirees. Of course these events would be held in a special place — the sitooterie. This fanciful term was created in Scotland in the 1920s to describe an outdoor sitting area, sometimes a gazebo or other similar structure. Did you know? Sitooterie — it's not a nonsense word, but it has a quite sensible structure. We know the word sit; "oot" is out in a Scottish accent, and the suffix "-ery" denotes a place set aside for something. So sitooterie is naturally a place for outdoor sitting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 What's the Word? - ZEPHYR pronunciation: [ZEH-fər] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, late 17th century meaning: 1. A soft gentle breeze. 2. A very light article of clothing. Example: "The warm zephyr was a welcome sign that spring was here." "You only need to wear a zephyr over your swimsuit for a trip to the beach." About Zephyr You can use zephyr to describe a welcome breeze on a warm day, or it might be the article of clothing you’re wearing. Zephyr was applied to a specific kind of cotton gingham, but the term evolved to describe any lightweight garment. Did you know? In Greek, “zephuros” means god of the west wind. The word zephyr was adopted as a poetic way to describe a gentle breeze — possibly from the west, but not necessarily. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 What's the Word? - DEMONYM pronunciation: [DEM-ə-nim] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, mid-19th century meaning: 1. A noun used to denote the natives or inhabitants of a particular country, state, city, etc. 2. Descriptive term used by a writer as a pen name. Example: "He knew the demonym for a resident of Indiana is Hoosier, but he didn’t know why." "I currently live in Australia, but I still claim my demonym as British." About Demonym A demonym identifies a native of a certain geographical place or ethnic group. These words might be as simple as adding a suffix (Japanese, Egyptian, Parisian) or it could be an entirely different word (Okie, Mancunian, Neapolitan). Did you know? Demonym comes from Greek — “dēmos” meaning people and “onuma” meaning name — but the usage has changed over time. It used to be applied to a noun used as a pen name, such as a pamphlet written by “A Country Clergyman.” The term was resurrected in the 1990s as a descriptor of residency. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) What's the Word? - EXOPLANET pronunciation: [EKS-oh-plan-ət] Part of speech: noun Origin: Ancient Greek, 1990s meaning: 1. A planet that orbits a star outside the solar system. Example: "You will need an instrument much stronger than your backyard telescope to see an exoplanet." "Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets outside of the Milky Way." About Exoplanet As technology and science advances, so must the language used to describe it. The term exoplanet has only been in common use since the 1990s, when discoveries of such planets were made, but the term comes from Greek. “Exo” means outside and “planḗtai” means wandering star. Did you know? The first confirmed exoplanet was discovered by Canadian astronomers in 1988, but scholars have suspected these worlds for hundreds of years. Giordano Bruno, an Italian philosopher, was an early supporter of the theory that Earth revolves around the Sun, and he speculated that the stars in the sky were accompanied by similar planets. Edited May 3, 2020 by DarkRavie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 What's the Word? - DETERGE pronunciation: [də-tərj] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, early 17th century meaning: 1. Cleanse thoroughly. Example: "After cooking the family dinner, he needed to deterge the kitchen." "Once the paint dries, nothing will deterge it from the surface." About Deterge You likely have detergent for cleaning dishes, clothes, and many other things in your home, but this is the verb form. Deterge means to clean thoroughly, coming from the French verb “déterger,” and the Latin “detergere,” meaning wipe away. Did you know? You’re not likely to hear deterge used to describe tidying up, or organizing your closet. This type of cleaning is a more intensive cleansing. It can be used to describe a thorough cleaning using soap or special chemicals, but it might also be used for a more ritualistic cleansing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 (edited) What's the Word? - ZEITGEIST pronunciation: [ZAIT-gaist] Part of speech: verb Origin: German, mid-19th century meaning: 1. The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time. Example: "She wanted to embrace the zeitgeist of the 1980s for her birthday party." "The bestselling book captured the zeitgeist of the college experience." About Zeitgeist It seems like there’s always a German word to express what we don’t have a word for in English. In the case of zeitgeist, you’re capturing a particular mood or characteristics of a certain era. In German, “zeit” means time and “geist” is the spirit. Did you know? If you see a flapper dress you think of the 1920s. Hippie bell bottoms bring to mind the 1960s. Hoop skirts will place a woman in the mid-19th century. Articles of clothing can quickly identify a period of time, but other things such as music, political ideas, and philosophies will also define the zeitgeist of a generation. Edited May 5, 2020 by DarkRavie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 What's the Word? - CHIFFONADE pronunciation: [shif-ə-NAHD] Part of speech: verb Origin: French, late 19th century meaning: 1. A preparation of shredded or finely cut leaf vegetables, used as a garnish for soup. Example: "Sprinkle the soup with a chiffonade of basil before you serve it." "The chef assigned his assistant to chop the chiffonade needed for the day." About Chiffonade A chiffonade is a quick way to add a splash of color and flavor to your food. Stolen from the French verb "chiffonner," meaning to crumble, chiffonade is a noun for delicate strips of herbs. It can also be used as a verb to describe the process of slicing the greens. Did you know? Even if you haven't heard the word, foodies will recognize a chiffonade — it's the finely chopped preparation of herbs or greens sprinkled on top of your food. It looks fancy, but it's quite easy to do. Stack the leaves, roll into a thin cigar shape, then slice across the roll to form thin ribbons. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 What's the Word? - TROVE pronunciation: [trohv] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century meaning: 1. A store of valuable or delightful things. Example: "The kids were pretending to be pirates, on a hunt for the secret treasure trove." "His wine cellar was a trove of rare vintages." About Chiffonade Historically, trove should be paired with treasure. The phrase comes from the French “tresor trové,” literally found treasure. The French verb “trover” means to find, but in English, the noun just means a stash of valuables. Did you know? Under British law, when hidden valuables are discovered, these found items are property of the Crown. Treasure hunters may not care about the words, but the Treasure Act of 1996 officially referred to these finds as “treasure,” not a “treasure trove.” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 What's the Word? - CHATELAINE pronunciation: [SHAD-ə-leyn] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, mid-19th century meaning: 1. A woman in charge of a large house. 2. A set of short chains attached to a woman's belt, used for carrying keys or other items. Example: "As chatelaine of the house, she was responsible for making sure all the gardening was done on schedule." "I found an antique chatelaine and have been wearing it as a piece of jewelry." About Chatelaine Chatelaine can describe either the housekeeper of a large home, or the dangle of useful objects carried around her waist. It comes from the French “châtelaine,” which is the feminine of châtelain. This word can be traced back to the Latin “castellanus,” which basically means keeper of the castle. Did you know? Isn’t it a pain to dig through your bag for your keys? What if you don’t have pockets? Bring back the chatelaine. This is a set of chains worn around the waist, used for carrying keys, sewing items, watches — anything a good housekeeper might need throughout the day. Some were as decorative as a piece of jewelry, but they were all useful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 What's the Word? - GAMUT pronunciation: [GAM-ət] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 15th century meaning: 1. The complete range or scope of something. 2. A complete scale of musical notes; the range of a voice or instrument Example: "The university offered online courses across the gamut of departments." "It seems like toddlers can express the whole gamut of human emotions in one afternoon." About Gamut While the term is still in use to describe the complete range of a voice or instrument, gamut has expanded beyond the musical world. Now the word describes the complete scope of something. You’ll likely hear it expressed as “the gamut,” or “run the gamut.” Did you know? Gamut was originally a musical term. In Latin, “gamma ut” was the name of the lowest note in the medieval scale (bass G an octave and a half below middle C). Gamut was then applied to the whole range of notes used in medieval music. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 What's the Word? - HACKATHON pronunciation: [HAK-ə-thahn] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 1990s meaning: 1. An event, typically lasting several days, in which a large number of people meet to engage in collaborative computer programming. Example: "The coding summer camp always ended with a big hackathon and party before parents arrived." "The hackathon competitors got to submit their ideas to a group of investors at the end of the week." About Hackathon You know the word marathon — any long-lasting event that requires great endurance, or, specifically, a running race of 26 miles and 385 yards. A hackathon doesn’t require sneakers, but you will find computer programmers hacking their way to the finish line of a new technology product or coding experiment. Did you know? Hackathons are relatively modern inventions, bringing together groups of computer programmers to brainstorm the next big idea. A hackathon is usually more of a sprint than it’s marathon-ish name might imply. The event is a flurry of hard work over a few days, ending in lots of exciting new projects. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 What's the Word? - SAGACIOUS pronunciation: [sə-GEY-shus] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century meaning: 1. Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement. 2. Wise and shrewd. Example: "She could always rely on her mentor to provide sagacious feedback." "The op-ed provided a sagacious viewpoint on the recent controversy." About Sagacious To be sagacious means to be wise, but specifically showing keen judgment. It’s not just about intelligence, but it’s showing discernment. It could be described as using “street smarts” in addition to “book smarts.” Did you know? You probably know sage as the spice that makes an appearance at Thanksgiving, but the Latin word “sagax” also means wise. Use sage as an adjective, or it can be a noun for a wise person. Sagacious can also be used for the adjective if you feel like it’s wise to use a longer word. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 What's the Word? - EXTRAMUNDANE pronunciation: [eks-trə-mən-DEYN] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century meaning: 1. Outside or beyond the physical world. Example: "She loved to pretend she was playing with fairies and other extramundane creatures." "Mythology from almost every culture contains extramundane stories and folklore." About Extramundane Today if you call someone “extra” it means they’re over the top and dramatic. Think the Real Housewives. The Latin origin doesn’t concern being too much; it just means outside. Paired with “mundus” for the world, extramundane means something not of this physical world. Did you know? Humans have always had an interest in what lies beyond our world. As an adjective, extramundane can be used to describe anything outside the earthly world. Lightning, seasons, animal discoveries — we have many modern scientific explanations for phenomena that in the past was attributed to the supernatural. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 What's the Word? - MINDFULNESS pronunciation: [mahynd-fəl-nis] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 16th century meaning: 1. The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. 2. A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique. Example: "Starting a meditation practice has helped me improve my mindfulness." "Extra mindfulness is necessary when you have a new baby in the house." About Mindfulness Quite simply, if you are aware of something, you are in a state of mindfulness. The word mindful dates back to the Middle Ages when the concept didn’t have the self-help connotation that it does today. Now you’re able to find books, podcasts, and YouTube videos, all devoted to the concept of mindfulness. Did you know? Mindfulness as a self-care practice is a new concept with roots in Buddhist philosophy. Basically it’s a mental state of acknowledging your current surroundings, mental and physical condition, and any other stimuli, and accepting the situation without judgment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 (edited) What's the Word? - GOCHUJANG pronunciation: [KOH-choo-jang] Part of speech: noun Origin: Korean, year unknown meaning: 1. A spicy paste used in Korean cooking, made from red chili peppers, fermented soybeans, rice, and salt. Example: "I'm challenging myself to try one new food a week; this week it's gochujang." "The special today is a spicy shrimp rice bowl with gochujang, cucumber, radishes, and carrots." About Gochujang Gochujang might be a new addition to American pantries, but this spicy red condiment has long been a staple of Korean cuisine. "Gochu" means red pepper, and "jang" means sauce. In addition to the spicy peppers, this paste contains fermented soy beans, rice, and salt. Did you know? Interested in trying this sauce? You can easily find it at a Korean restaurant, but you can also pick it up at any well-stocked grocery store. Try it in a stew, a rice bowl, as a marinade for meat, a vegetable sauce, or to spice up your soup. Edited May 14, 2020 by DarkRavie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 What's the Word? - PATRONAGE pronunciation: [PEY-trə-nij] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 14th century meaning: 1. The support given by a patron. 2. The regular business given to a store, restaurant, or public service by a person or group. Example: "He received enough patronage from the art gallery owner to be able to quit his day job and focus on painting." "I love to go out to eat, but I try to give my patronage to locally owned restaurants." About Patronage Coming from Old French, “patron” was a protector or advocate. Patronage became the support given by this patron. It can be economic support to a particular artist, for example, or it can be a group of customers to a certain shop or restaurant. Patronage is any kind of support that keeps you going. Did you know? Another definition of patronage is relating to the verb patronize, or the adjective form, patronizing. It’s still related to the root word of patron, but this is done with a specific condescending manner. If someone is speaking to you with a patronizing tone, it will be hard to prevent yourself from rolling your eyes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 What's the Word? - BIODIVERSITY pronunciation: [bahy-oh-dih-VERS-ih-tee] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 1980s meaning: 1. The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Example: "The Australian biodiversity is responsible for almost 10% of all species on Earth." "The foundation was focused on efforts to preserve the biodiversity of the rainforest." About Biodiversity The word biodiversity was stitched together from pieces of ancient languages, but it’s a relatively modern term. In Greek “bios” means mode of life and “divertere” is a Latin verb for to go different ways. Biodiversity is used to refer to all the different types of plant and animal life in a given area. Did you know? As concerns about ecological conservation grow, biodiversity has moved from a specialized word only used by scientists, to quite a commonly understood term. Efforts to preserve biodiversity include habitat restoration, animal rescues and sanctuaries, and specific laws designed to improve positive biodiversity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 What's the Word? - HEYDAY pronunciation: [HEY-dey] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, late 16th century meaning: 1. The period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor. 2. An exclamation of joy, surprise. Example: "The heyday of the silent film ended in the late 1920s." "Michael Jordan was unstoppable in his heyday." About Heyday Teenagers might think the heyday of their life is in high school, but with age comes wisdom. It might be your career, or your family, or some other sort of accomplishment — enjoy your heyday, or time of greatest success. Did you know? We can thank Shakespeare once again for this evolution in the English language. “Heyday!” was originally a short interjection of surprise or wonder. Then it gained a definition of high spirits in “Hamlet.” "You cannot call it love; for at your age / The heyday in the blood is tame…." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2020 What's the Word? - KINETIC pronunciation: [kə-NED-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, mid-19th century meaning: 1. Relating to or resulting from motion. 2. (of a work of art) depending on movement for its effect. Example: "The garden was designed with a large kinetic water fountain as the centerpiece." "The museum featured a breathtaking display of kinetic art for the spring showcase." About Kinetic Kinetic comes from the Greek word “kinētikos,” from the verb “kinein,” meaning to move. You can describe any sort of motion — from your first stretch in the morning to the giant drop on a roller coaster — as kinetic. It’s also used in the art world to describe moving sculptures. Did you know? You’ll likely recognize “kine” in other moving words, including kinesiology (the study of the mechanics of body movements), kinematics (the properties of an object in motion), and kinesics (gestures and body movements serving as non-verbal communication). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2020 What's the Word? - PANTHEON pronunciation: [PAN-thee-ahn] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, 14th century meaning: 1. A group of particularly respected, famous, or important people. 2. All the gods of a people or religion collectively. Example: "Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Patsy Cline are original members of the pantheon of female country musicians." "The vase up for auction displayed the deities of the Greek pantheon." About Pantheon If there’s a particular group of people you wish to honor, you could call the collection a pantheon. If you’re honoring the dead, you could do that in a structure called a pantheon. But in ancient Greece and Rome, a pantheon was a temple dedicated to all of the gods. Did you know? The Pantheon in Rome is a former Roman temple, now a Catholic church. Built in the second century, it’s one of the best preserved examples of Roman architecture. Nearly 2,000 years after it was built, it’s still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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